Football League's top five 13/14: Left back - Leeds, Derby, Ipswich feature

Ipswich Town star named number one, while there were respective top five finishes for both Leeds United and Derby County defensive stalwarts.

The Football League writers here at HITC have put together a list of the division's top five players in each position, considering a traditional 4-4-2 formation.

The only rules of selection were the players had to have made over 25-appearances this season and their most frequented position, as judged by whoscored, would be the only one accountable.

As the countdown to the end of the season approaches, we will run through all 11 positions on the pitch, including management, before naming a Football League XI, Young Football League XI, Young Football League top five and finally, the top five players in the Championship.

In our second piece, we take a look at who joined Leicester City's Kasper Schmeichel in our 2013/2014 season Football League back 5, firstly starting at the left full-back position.

The former England international has continued to remain a key part in a Leeds United side that, in truth, have been a little below par this season.

Nevertheless, the 32-year-old has remained a stalwart in Whites defence and has aided them to a comfortable league position which has seen them keep their head above water and away from a relegation battle, which they otherwise may have been sucked into.

He will no doubt remain a key component in the Leeds side, which under Cellino, will enjoy better fortunes next season.

The former Manchester City defender's inclusion to our top five should make for little surprise after being a key component to a defence which, to date, has conceded just 35 goals this season.

The 24-year-old has showed exceptional defensive capabilities this season, which is often overlooked for the more attack-minded full-backs in the Championship. Nevertheless, the defender will be keen to finally prove himself in the Premier League next season after failing to make a Premier League appearance during his time at the Etihad.

In what could represent the shrewdest signing in the Championship this season, Craig Forsyth has really come into his own at the iPro Stadium, especially in the second-half of the season.

He is now one of the first names on the team-sheet at Derby and, along with Lee Grant, is yet to miss a game this season. He is renowned for his dangerous crossing ability, as well as his solidity in defence and over the course of the season has even earned the tag, according to whoscored, as statistically the best left-back in the division.

Rated by some as the best full-back in the division, it is understandable that his silver medal may come as a shock. Nevertheless, I don't think I could do him justice this season to just how important he has been to Middlesbrough's promotion push.

Although in the end it has proven too little too late, the consistency and ability shown by Friend this season is of a player that deserves to be dreaming of playing in the Premier League next season. A player renowned for both his attacking and defensive prowess is rare to find, however, he manages to do both comfortably.

Although he was named PFA Championship left-back of the season, I think it's fair to say that to be named HITC Football League left-back of the season could prove to be an even bigger scalp. Nevertheless, I don't think in the eyes of Ipswich Town supporters this was ever in doubt, due to the players form over the course of the season.

The 24-year-old, who was signed from Tranmere in 2011, has continued to grow at Ipswich and is now a reported target for some of the Premier League's biggest clubs and with Ipswich missing out on promotion this term, they could face a fierce fight to keep hold of their man this summer.

In terms of his playing style, If this season has proven anything with regards to Cresswell that we already didn't know, it is that on his day he is an uncontrollable attacking threat. This is proven with his astonishing 12 assists this season which is more than three times any of the other left backs in the list.